Local commerce

Publishing a free community paper like The Sun, requires us to come in contact with many business sources each and every week as we work to secure income to offset the cost of our overhead.

Two common themes we regularly hear when speaking with local business owners and managers are a lack of available workers and the ever rising costs of operating a business today.

Local businesses are not alone in this environment. Service companies, government agencies, non-profits and even the big box stores and national restaurant chains have had to adjust to new trends forcing a more watchful eye on every expense.

So many things have changed in the past few years that affect business overhead and sadly most of them have not been good. Payroll costs, health insurance, cost of goods, and choosing the right vendors to assist businesses in reaching their goals have all undergone a major revamping to adjust to the new norm.

Most business owners today work far harder than in the past and do so with far less left in the cookie jar when all the bills are satisfied. Many would also think twice about starting or owning a business in today’s climate.

While it’s never been easy getting started in business, hard work and regular investment early on were generally rewarded with customer loyalty and smooth sailing once the business was established.

Supporting local businesses that employ our neighbors and family members is what helps create a strong local economy. And a strong local economy ensures us all a more vibrant community capable of dealing with changing times and bumps in the road that will arise over time.

It is easy to be seduced by low cost online deals from mega suppliers like Amazon, Alibaba, Overstock and dozens more who do nothing to help build strong communities with good schools systems, strong health care agencies and vibrant main streets.

Strong local commerce requires funds moving throughout the entire community just like blood flowing through a healthy human body. It must be steady to sustain the health of the body or in this case the community economic health.

As we celebrate labor day this weekend let’s remember our local labor force and not forget the many business employers who call our community home. They invest a lot to be here and our combined success in all areas of the community will be based on the ability to support each other.

Comments (1)

Business is where true education starts

Very well said, Dan. Unfortunately, most people probably can not relate to what you're saying unless they "have been there, done that." I have always said that a person is never truly educated until he/she goes into business for themselves. Only then does that person learn the really important skills in life: how to deal with people and all the silly things they do, and get around the problems they cause. Have a happy Labor Day!